LENDING A HAND: KS Hawaii service project equips charter school second-graders with learning resources

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Kamehameha Schools Hawaii campus Hawaiian 2 students recently participated in a two-part service learning project that donated two iPad minis and 15 hard copy and 12 electronic books to a second-grade class at Ke Kula ‘O Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u public charter school.

Kamehameha Schools Hawaii campus Hawaiian 2 students recently participated in a two-part service learning project that donated two iPad minis and 15 hard copy and 12 electronic books to a second-grade class at Ke Kula ‘O Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u public charter school.

“This project allowed students to apply the lessons learned in class in a way that benefits the greater Hawaiian community,” said KS Hawaii high school Hawaiian language kumu Pomaika‘i Baptista.

First, students researched ‘olelo no‘eau centered around the theme of “E ‘Olelo Hawaii.” Students then created notepad and sticker designs, which were sold to raise the funding needed to purchase an iPad and print the books they would create.

Second, students created the research books in ‘olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) centered around scientific topics and uploaded them onto the iPads to include interactive features the second-grade students could access.

The books needed to align with the Nawahi curriculum and meet the needs of Hawaiian-speaking students.

“These books helped target a science standard that was lacking in the second-grade class due to a lack of Hawaiian language resources in that curriculum area,” Baptista said.

The project immediately benefits 38 students and two kumu at the Hawaiian-focused charter school in Keaau. The iPads now allow the kumu to download different apps and create Hawaiian-based curriculum, games and assessments in the Hawaiian language.